Bean-separating machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

DE WITT G4. BREED.

.-(No Model.)

BEAN SEPARATING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 22, 1895.

(No Model.) a Sheets-Shem; 2.

DE WITT 0. BREED. BEAN SEBARATING MACHINE.

No. 532,944. I Patented Jan. 22, 1895;

(N9 Model.) 3 sh eets sheet 3.

DE WITT 0.33331); BEAN SEPARATING MACHINE.

No. 532,944; Patented Jan. 22, 1 95.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

DE WITT "c. BREED, 'OF MEDINA, NEW YORK.

BEAN-SEPARATIN G MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,944, dated January22, 1895. 4

Application filed April 13, 1892. Renewed June 14, 1894- Serial No.514,611. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DE WITT CLINTON BREED, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bean-SeparatingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for rapidly and thoroughlyseparating perfect and merchantable beans, or similar agriculturalproducts, from dirt, refuse and defective, imperfect or unsalablematerial at small expense.

The invention consists in certainfeatures of construction and novelcombinations of devices in a separating machine as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the annexed drawings illustrating the inventionFigure 1 is a partlysectional side elevation of a machine embodying my improvements andadapted to the separation of beans and similar products. Fig. 2 is anend elevation of the upper separating devices. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the lower separating devices. Fig. 4 is a perspective of aportion of the feed devices. Fig. 5 is sectional plan of the same on theline 0ca: of Fig, 1. Fig. 6 is aperspective of an elastic separatingcomb or card.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1, Fig.1, designates a suitableframe for supporting the operative parts of the machine. In or upon theupper part of this frame is a supply hopper 2 in which are placed thebeant to be separated. The lower part of thehopper 2 is provided on oneside with an exit opening 3 communicating with a spout 4 through whichthe beans are conducted in passing to the separating devices.

In one side of the main frame of the machine is journaled a main drivingshaft 5 from which the separating rollers and auxiliary screw conveyers,hereinafter described, are primarily actuated. On this main drivingshaft 5 is hinged or pivotally supported one end of an adjustableinclined frame 6 which, as shown, is suspended at its other end from avertically adjustable rod or hanger 7 depending from the upper part ofthe machine frame and provided with a screw threaded portion-on which ismounted a nut or handwheel 8 for adjusting the frame 6 to a more orlessinclined position, as required. The adjustably inclined frame 6 isprovided at its opposite ends with boxes 9 to receive the journals of aroller 10 that forms a part of the separating mechanism. This roller 10is driven by bevel gearing 11 from the main driving shaft 5, as shown.On the roller journals 1O are pivotally supported the upper ends ofswinging arms 12 to the lower ends of which are hinged or pivoted, at13, Fig. 2 the lower ends of adjustable arms 14 to the upper ends ofwhich is rigidlysecured a bar 15 that is arranged parallel with butabove and to one side of the roller. To this bar 15 is securely attacheda-comb or card 16 Fig. 6 consisting of a series of closely set teethcomposed of rubber or other suitable yielding and elastic material.

The yielding teeth of the comb or card 16 are preferably curved outwardand downward from the rigid bar 15, as shown in Figs.

2 and6, and have their lower ends in more or less proximity to theroller 10 according to the character of the'material to be graded orseparated by the action of said roller and card. Near their lower endsthe pivotally connected bracket arms 12 and 14 are further connected byscrew-bolts 17 on which are placed thumb nuts and springs for adjustingsaid arms toward and from each other so as to vary the proximity of theroller 10 and comb 16 with relation to each other, as may be required inorder to eifeot a separation of the smooth and perfect beans from thosethat are rough, rusty or damaged.

The upper portion of the adjustably inclined frame 6 carries asupplemental hopper or chute 18 Fig. 1, whichis so constructed as toreceive on one side the discharge end of the spout 4 through whichthebeans are conducted from the main supply hopper 2, before described.The spout 4 is connected at one end by a hinge 19 to the lower end-ofthe hopper 2 and at the other endis supported bythe hopper or chute 18so that communication between said spout 4 and hopper 18 will not beaffected by adjustments in the inclination of the frame 6 by which theroller 10, comb 16 and hopper 18 are supported. Across the upper end ofthe spout 4 is mounted a shaft 20 carrying a hollow feed wheel 21 thatworks partly in the exit opening 3 of the supply hopper 2 for thepurpose of conveying beans from said hopper into the spout t and thenceto the chute 18 by which they are delivered to the separating devices.The shaft 20 of the feed wheel 21 is provided with a pulley or bandwheel 22 driven by belting 23 from a pulley 24 on the main drivingshaft.

In the lower portion of the hopper or chute 18 is afeed opening 25through which the beans are discharged into the angle or trough formedby the converging curved surfaces of the roller 10 and adjacent comb 16,and as it will be understood that the said roller is geared and actuatedin such manner as to rotate toward the said comb it will seen that thebeans will be retained in this angle or trough as they pass along downthe inclined roller from its upper to its lower end. During this rollingmovement of the beans in the trough or angle between the inclined roller10 and elastic comb 16 the rough and irregular surfaces of the rustyorimperfect beans will come in frictional contact with the rotatingroller and by this means the defective or refuse beans will be carriedor forced thrbugh the narrow space between the roller and comb and bedischarged beneath the same. To assist the inclined roller 10 in itswork of arresting the free passage of rough imperfect beans, dirt andextraneous substances, the said roller may have a facing of rubber orother elastic or frictional material, or, if preferred, it may be whollycomposed of such material.

It will be observed that while the comb 16 assists in forming with theroller an inclined trough or way for the beans and a guard to retain theperfect and smooth faced beans in said trough its individual teeth arecapable of separately and independently yielding to permit the passageand separation of rough imperfect beans and extraneous substanceswithout exposing either the roller or the comb to the injurious andwearing effects of friction.

The imperfect beans and refuse material separated by the joint action ofthe roller 10 and comb 16 drop into a hopper 26 that may be suspendedbeneath and carried by the adjustable frame 6 or be otherwise supportedin any suitable manner. Through this hopper 26 the refuse beans and dirtare received in t a trough 27 containing a screw-conveyer 28 justment ofthe rod or hanger 7 any desired inclination can be given to the roller10 and comb 16 for the purpose of accelerating or retarding the feed ofthe beans along the sepa rating surfaces. It will also be seen that bymeans of the thumb nuts on the screw bolts 17 the roller 10 and comb 16can be adjusted to a more or less close relation with reference to thecharacter and bulk of the refuse material to be separated.

To provide for a more complete separation of the perfect and imperfectbeans and obtain a marketable commodity entirely free from dirt, refuseand undesirable material a supplemental or auxiliary arrangement ofseparating devices may be supported in the lower part of the machineframe. The auxiliary separating mechanism comprises a rotary shaft 31mounted in suitable bearings below the lower end of the adjustable frame6 and driven by belting 32 from the shaft of the screw-conveyor 28. Onthe shaft3l is hinged or pivoted theuppermost end of an adjustableinclined frame 33 which occupies a reversely inclined position to theframe 6 in which the roller 10 and comb 16 are mounted.

The adjustable inclined frame 33 is provided at its opposite ends withboxes 34: for the journals of a roller 35, and on the journals 35 ofthis roller are pivotally mounted a pair of depending swinging arms 36the lower ends of which are connected by pivots 36, Fig. 3,' to thelower ends of adjustable arms 37 having near theirupper ends suitableboxes 34 to receive the journals 38 of a roller 38 arranged to co-actwith the roller 35 for the purpose of effecting a thorough separation ofthe perfect and imperfect beans. The rollers 35 and 38 may be faced withrubber or other elastic or frictional material or be wholly composed ofsuch a substance. The beans and other material passing from the lowerend of the trough formed by the upper roller 10 and comb 16 may beconducted by a spout 39 into a hinged chute 40 which has one end pivotedat 41 to the frame of the machine. The discharge end of this chute 40 issupported in any suitable manner above the inlet end of the angle ortrough formed by the converging surfaces of the rollers 35 and 38 whichare geared and actuated to rotate toward each other.

While the upper end of the adjustable inclined frame 33 is hinged orpivoted on the shaft 31, as above described, the lower end of said frameis suspended by means of a vertical rod or hanger 43 depending from theframework of the machine and having a screw threaded portion on whichismounted a nut or hand Wheel 44: for adjusting or varying theinclination of the frame 33 and rollers 35 and 38 to retard oraccelerate the passage of the material under treatment in an inclineddirection downward along the trough or angle formed by said rollers. Thehingedsupport of the chute 4O permits this adjustment of the frame 33without affecting a proper operative relation of the said chute with thespout 39 on one hand or the rollers 35 and 38 on the other. The roller35 is driven by bevel gear- IIO . ing 45 from the shaft 31 and transmitsmo-.

' posit.

tion through spur gears 46 to the roller 38 so that both rollers willrotate uniformly and in opposite directions, toward each other. Inrolling downward along and in the trough or angle of the rollers 35 and38 the smooth surfaced and perfect or merchantable beans meet with noobstruction and pass olf at the lower end through a spout 47 thatempties into a trough 48 containing a screw conveyor 49 by which thecleansed and sound or perfect beans are taken to a point where they canbe collected and packed for market. Any rough, rusty or imperfect beans,together with dirt or other refuse, that may pass onto the separatingrollers 35 and 38, and which will not be capable of rolling smoothlyalong in the inclined trough formed by said rollers, will be caught bythe frictional surfaces of the rotating rollers and carried down intohopper 50 which discharges into a trough 51 provided with ascrew-conveyer 52 by which the refuse material is removed to a suitableplace of de- The screw-conveyer 52 may be driven by belting 53 from theshaft 31, and the conveyer 49 by belting 54 from the shaft of theconveyor 52, as shown.

The upper ends of the swinging or adjustable arms 36 and 37 areconnected by links or screw bolts 55 provided with springs 42 and havingthreaded portions to engage thumbnuts 56 by which the arms 36 and 37 canbe adjusted on the pivots 36 to bring the rollers 35 and 38 closertogether or carry them'farther apart according to the size or quality ofthe material to be acted upon by said rollers.

The roller 38 is preferably arranged at a somewhat higher level than theroller 35 for the purpose of causing the beans to gravitate toward thelowermost roller. By this means the friction on the rough or rusty beansis exerted mostly by the lower roller 35' while the uppermost roller 38acts chiefly as a guard to retain the body of beans in the inclinedtrough formed by the two rollers. It will be seen that the arrangementof one of these rollers at a higher level than the other throws the exitspace between said rollers to one side of the vertical line in which thebeans would otherwise naturally gravitate; and thus any wedging of thebeans in the narrow exit space or angle between the rollers is preventedand the frictional surfaces of the rollers are preserved from undue wearor cutting in proportion to the relief from pressure thereon which isthus afiorded.

In order to provide for adjusting or varyin g the relative elevation ofthe rollers 35 and 38, according to the requirements of the materialacted upon, and at the same time protect the roller surfaces from Wear,the pivots 36 that connect the lower ends of the arms 36 and 37 areengaged in vertical slots 57 in horizontally and longitudinally movableshifterbars 58 supported by the adjustable inclined frame 33 andeachprovided at one end with a threaded stem 59 on which is a thumb-nutbars 58 longitudinally and thereby oscillating the arms 36 on thejournals of the roller 35 the arms 37 will be raised or lowered and thusthe relative elevation of therollers 35 and 38 can be changed as desiredwith the effect of causing them to exert more or less friction on thematerial under treatment. It is obvious that the adjustment of one ofthese rollers at a higher elevation than its fellow, thereby lesseningthe friction and pressure, not only tends to preserve the frictionalsurfaces from wear but also requires the expenditure of less power foroperating the machine.

The means thus described for adjusting or varying the relative elevationof the rollers 35 and 38 may also be applied to the roller 10 and comb16 of the.upper separating devices. As shown in Fig. 2 the pivots 13that connect the lower ends of the adjustable arms 12 and 14 may engageVertical slots 61 in shifter-bars 62 having threaded stems 63 providedwith thumb-nuts 64 by which said shifter-bars can be adjustedlongitudinally to swing the arms 12 on the journals of the roller 10 andthereby raise or lower the arms 14 to vary the elevation of the comb 16with relation to the roller 10 and thus increase or diminish thefriction exerted by the roller 10 on the material under treatment.

To assist in retaining or guiding the beans in the trough formed byrollers 35 and 38 and prevent them from flying off over the lowermostroller 35 the arms 36 may support a guard plate or strip 70 that can bearranged with its lower edge in suitable proximity to the upper surfaceof the roller 35 and toward its outer side.

The machine can be constructed with a single roller 10 and itsaccompanying comb 16 and a single pair of auxiliary separating rollers35 and 38 though I prefer to provide each machine with at least two setsof these upper and lower separating devices, which will be sufficientfor handling a small crop. Forthe purpose of adapting the machine to thehandling of large crops in a short time'and with small expense thenumber of separating de vices can be increased to any desired extent andmay be conveniently arranged in a gang for simultaneous operation from asingle prime motor. Themain supply hopper 2 and the several screwconveyers can be extended the entire length of a gangmachine for use incommon with the several sets of separating devices and the shifter bars58 and 62 can be extended to connect with and simultaneously operate thesupports of all the adjustable separating devices.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a preferred form of feed wheel 21 anddouble spout 4 arranged in connection with a supply hopper 2 and adaptedfor feeding to a duplicate set of separating devices placed side by sideas IIO shown in Fig. 2. The double spout at is hinged at 19 to thehopper 2 as already described. One side of this spout will be arrangedto discharge into a hopper 18, Fig. 1, communicating with a roller 10and comb 16 and the other side of the double spout will convey the beansor other material through the same hopper, or a difierent one, to anadjacent roller and comb. The opposite sides of the double spout may beconnected by an intermediate hood shaped portion 65 which will enablesaid spout to straddle the adjacent sides of two hoppers 18 or apartition that may separate such hopper. This central hood shapedportion of the double spout 4. is slotted adjacent to the supply hopper2 for reception of the feed wheel 21, which is made hollow and dividedbya central disk shaped partition 66, as shown. The hollow centrallydivided feed wheel 21 works partly in the opening 3 of the hopper 2 andis provided in each side with a circular opening 67 through which thebeans pass from the hopper 2 into said hollow wheel 21 and thenceoutward into the double spout 4. as the wheel revolves. To facilitatepassage of the beans from the hollow wheel 21 into.

the spouts 4 the sides of the hood shaped portion 65 may be providedwith semi-circular notches or passages 68 opposite the circular opening67 in the sides of the feed Wheel. Although the construction describedis well adapted to the feeding of the beans in regulated quantities Iwould have it understood that I do not limit myself to any particularform of feed wheel.

If desired the exit passage 25 of the spout 18 may be provided with aflap valve 69, Fig. l, to restrain a too rapid feed of material to theseparating devices.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a separating machine, thecombination of an inclined frame, oscillatory or adjustable arms havingtheir lower ends pivotally connected and their upper ends adjustable toand from each other, a pair of inclined rollers journaled in boxescarried by said frame and arms and forming an inclined trough forreception of material to be separated, and shifter-bars connected withthe lower ends of said adjustable or oscillatory arms to vary therelative elevation of said rollers, substantially as described.

2. In a separating machine, the combination with a pair of inclinedseparating devices forming an inclined trough for reception of thematerial to be separated, one of said devices being supported at ahigher elevation than the other, of means for varying the relativeelevation of said devices, substantially as described.

3. In a separating machine, the combination of an inclined frame,adjustable pivotally connected arms, a pair of separating devicessupported in said frame and arms and forming an inclined trough forreception of material to be separated, one of said devices being at ahigher elevation than the other, and shifter-bars connected with andadapted to oscillate said adjustable arms to vary the relative elevationof said separating devices, substantially as described.

4. In a separating machine, the combination of an inclined frame,adjustable oscillatory arms having their lower ends pivotally connectedand their upper ends adjustable to and from each other, a pair ofinclined separating devices supported in said frame and arms and formingan inclined trough for reception of material to be separated, one ofsaid devices being at a higher elevation than the other, shifter-barsconnected with and adapted to oscillate said adjustable arms to vary therelative elevation of the separating devices, and means for adjustingthe oscillatory arms to and from each other, substantially as described.

5. In a separating machine, the combination with an inclined roller anda card or comb supported parallel with and above one side of said rollerand forming an inclined trough therewith, of feed devices for deliveringto the upper end of said trough the material to be separated, a conveyerarranged beneath said roller to carry away the refuse material while thecleansed or marketable product is discharged at the lower end of theinclined trough formed by said roller and comb, a pair of inclinedrollers forming an inclined trough to receive the cleansed product fromthe above named roller and comb, a conveyer located beneath said pair ofrollers to carry away the refuse, and a conveyer located at the lowerend of the inclined trough formed by said pair of rollers to receive andcarry away the marketable product, substantially as described.

6. In a separating machine, the combination of a pair of adjustableinclined separating devices one of which is supported at a higherelevation than the other, means for adjusting or varying the relativeelevation of said devices, and a guard supported above and in proximityto the lower separating device, substantially as described.

7. In a separating machine, the combination with an inclined roller, anda card or comb supported in an inclined position at one side of saidroller and having elastic teeth adapted to form with the roller surfacean inclined trough for reception and passage of the material to beseparated of feed devices for delivering material to the upper end ofthe inclined trough formed by said roller and comb, and a conveyerlocated beneath said roller and comb to receive and conduct away ICC therefuse material separated by the roller and comb, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a separating machine, the combination with an inclined roller, ofa stationary card or comb supported parallel with said roller to formtherewith an inclined trough for reception of the material to beseparated said comb adapted to serve as a guard to retain the materialupon said roller and enable the smooth marketable product to roll downarranged to form a trough for receiving the the inclined trough whilethe rough, imperpartly cleansed and separated material from feet andrefuse material is frictionally ensaid roller and comb and complete thesepagaged by the roller and discharged vertically ration, substantiallyas described. 15 5 downward through a space between the roller Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set and comb, substantially asdescribed. my hand and affixed my seal in presence of 9. In a separatingmachine, the combinatwo subscribing witnesses. tion with an inclinedroller and a card or DE WITT C. BREED. [L. 5.] comb supported in aninclined position par- Witnesses: ro allel with said roller and formingan inclined ALBERT H. NORRIS,

trough therewith, of a pair of inclined rollers JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

